Organic Food Doesn't Decrease Cancer Risk, says NIH Expert

Organic foods are popular, and many consumers believe that eating them will lower their risk of developing cancer. Top cancer researcher Dr. Peter Greenwald, the Associate Director for Prevention at the National Cancer Institute, says he's doubtful, but there are definite ways you can tip the odds in your favor for preventing cancer.

"The main thing a person can do to prevent cancer is to live a healthy lifestyle," Dr. Greenwald told Newsmax Health. "Keep trim and get plenty of exercise. Make vegetables, fruits, and whole grains the main part of your meals, and maybe cut down on the amount of meat." Those are the steps we can take as individuals.

Risk factors, such as a family history of cancer or heart disease, should get extra attention, says Dr. Greenwald: "There are tests they might need or things they might need to do in addition to living a healthy lifestyle."

Eating specific foods is not the key to cancer prevention. "It's not one food," he said. "It's a balance." We consume too much of some things, such as sugar water and caffeine in soft drinks, says Greenwald. And with many people, it's just eating too much.

"Moderation is key," he says.

He rules out organic foods as being a major factor in lowering risk. "Personally, I don't think that organic food will lower the risk of developing cancer," Greenwald said. "All food is organic from a chemist's point of view."

The National Cancer Institute sees the future of cancer-prevention as taking two distinct forms. The first is a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating the right foods, not eating too much, cutting down on sugary drinks, and getting enough exercise.

The second form is the use of cancer-preventing drugs. "The NCI has sponsored studies that show we know how to prevent about half of post-menopausal breast cancers and about a quarter of prostate cancers by using drugs," he said. The approach is similar to that of preventing heart disease. "You see high cholesterol and high blood pressure as being risk factors for heart disease, and you bring them down to lower your risk." Giving the right preventive drugs to the right cancer patient will lower risk, Dr. Greenwald says.

Genetics are also a factor. "We're learning more about genetics and how that affects risk," he said. "In a situation where there is a family history of cancer, talk to your oncologist or to someone who specializes in counseling people about family history. There are many different situations — colon cancer is different from breast cancer. There are things you can do, but it's best not to generalize. Talk to your physician."